8 March 2006

"Great Expectations" Wins Top Award for Probationer Teacher

A probationer primary school teacher who graduated from the University of Dundee last year has been presented with the prestigious George D Gray CBE MA Award by the General Teaching Council for Scotland.

Jane Harrison, who graduated with First Class Honours from Dundee University and is now undergoing her induction at Denbeath Primary School in Buckhaven, Fife, is the third successive student from the Faculty of Education and Social Work to win the annual award.

The annual award is presented to the author of Scotland’s best BEd thesis. Jane’s entry - ‘Great Expectations - A study of the influences on children’s expectations as they approach transition from primary to secondary school’ - won widespread praise from the judging panel.

Jane, who is from St Andrews, received a certificate and cheque to mark her achievement.

Jane's research was wide ranging, using randomly selected schools and different education authorities. The findings revealed very real issues affecting pupils, both positive and negative as they move into S1. They explored the intricacies of relationships, not just the commonplace issues such as the big school and hard work.

Chief Executive of the GTC Scotland, Matthew MacIver, said:

"The standard of theses submitted this year was very high but Miss Harrison deserves special praise for her efforts - she demonstrated an excellent grasp of the subject and impressed all the judges greatly."

"Miss Harrison’s thesis was more broadly based than others involving 157 pupils in P7 classes at three randomly selected schools in three different education authorities. It was a very impressive piece of work tackling an area which is of great importance to all of us involved in education."

Jane said:

"I am thrilled to have been given this award, and flattered by the interest in my work. While providing every child with an older sibling in the 2 years preceding transition is not a viable option, I hope that some of the practical suggestions in my thesis may help vulnerable children settle into high school more easily, resulting in better academic performance. I look forward to researching these issues further in the future."

NOTES TO EDITORS

The George D Gray CBE MA Award was launched in 2001 by Doctor Ethel Gray in memory of her late husband and the first ever Registrar of the GTC Scotland, Doctor George D Gray CBE MA. The George D Gray CBE MA Award Panel consists of:
Matthew M MacIver, Chief Executive/Registrar, GTC Scotland
Dr Ethel Gray CBE, widow of the late George D Gray
Professor Ron Elder, Retired recently from the University of Dundee
Dr Ivor Sutherland, ex Registrar of the GTC Scotland
Neil Munro, Editor of the Times Educational Supplement Scotland

For more information contact:

Roddy Isles
Head of Press
University of Dundee
Nethergate Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384910
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk